Impegvemekt is piaito-foetes



@uitrit tang @strat fitte.

IMPRVEMENT Ill PIANOJ'RTES.

@lgs tlgrtule tettt in in tigers Eaters zttazt mth mating gaat nf its: time.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY GONCERN:A

Be it known that I, G. HENRY HULSKAMP, of the city and State'of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Piano-Fortes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 is a vertical section, as seen from the right-hand side, of that part of the instrument representing one of the/highest notes in pianos of full size.

The letters b, c, e, `pand z', show parts of the ordinary constructions.

My improvements are designed to improve the tone of the highest notes or octaves in square pianos of different styles and constructions, and they relate to the form of the bridge, cl, and the agrae, A., and their relationship to the wrest plank, l1.. To produce a clear and powerful singing tone in the higher notes of pianos, the hammer, c, must strike the strings near their bearing points at b, and these bearing points-have to be constructed with greatsolidity. They have heretofore been made of metallic plates, with agra'es inserted therein7 or by inserting pins into wooden bridges. I have found a great improvement in tone and in strength, by constructing the bridge d as represented in the drawing, and inserting the agraii'e obliquely into the solid Wooden block as shown at A. In this way the hammer can strike close to the bearing on'the agraife without obstruction, and at the same time a much purer and sweeter tone is produced than when the agraii'e is attached to an iron or other metallic plate. I The upper side of the bridge Where the agraes are to be screwed in, may be made `of several pieces of Wood, glued together, with the grains or fibres running in different directions.

I distinctly disclaim the use of agraffes inserted into iron, as shown' in a patent to H. Steinway, jr., Novem- 'oer 29, 1859; but what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I The combination of the wooden bridge d, and the wrest-plank 7L, with the agraife A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Gr. HENRY HULSKAMP. 

